Tile Doctor SA
Tile Sealing
Tile Sealing
There are plenty of elements that can penetrate or hold to the surface such as grout, dyes, resins, oil, water, etc. Many products on the market have been designed to beautify and protect the surfaces of stone, tile, and grout, and sealer is one of them.
Sealers can be water-based or solvent-based. Take note: most water-based sealers cannot be used outside so you might want to consider that. As the name implies, it seals the surface tight against chemicals, water, and other contaminants.
By applying a sealer, you completely occupy the porous grout structure with a stable, hard grout sealer before the water moves in. This results in strengthening the tile and looking great. Sealing is done to create a protective barrier against spills and permanent stains. It also ensures that future tile and grout cleanings yield the best possible results.
It is important to realize that a sealer is not an impenetrable barrier – it only provides reaction time to deal with spills.
Penetrating Sealers
There are two types of penetrating sealers on the market where you have Locally manufactured and Imported sealers.
Locally manufactured sealers are absorbed into the pores of the tile and grout which sits just below the surface of the tile and prevents spills from penetrating the tile. After its application, the carrier evaporates and leaves the solid materials within the tile and grout which fills up the pores and closes capillaries to the surface thereby reducing the absorption of potentially staining materials.
Imported sealers are slightly more expensive than your locally manufactured sealers but are your “Rolls-Royce” type of penetrating sealer on the market as it works by going deep within the natural stone and grout to bond with the molecules. This helps protect against all forms of stains and moisture. This “Rolls-Royce” type of sealer also comes with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties to give your tile extra protection.
SURFACE SEALERS
This type of sealer adds a protective coating on top of the tile and grout. This is similar to how a varnish works with wood and other materials. This kind of sealer is widely used with natural stones, such as Sandstone, Slate, Granite, Rosa Stone, Terracotta, etc. Sealers need to be re-applied every 2-5 years depending on various factors.
Questions? We have answers
Have more questions? Visit our FAQ section for quick answers to common questions about our tile cleaning and natural stone cleaning services, or contact us for further assistance.
